Project a traditional IRA balance at retirement and see the tax due when you withdraw.
How the ira calculator works
A traditional IRA gives you a deduction now and taxes withdrawals later. The account grows tax-deferred, so nothing is lost to tax along the way — but every dollar you take out in retirement is taxed as ordinary income.
Set your expected retirement tax rate to see the after-tax value, which is the number that actually matters when comparing against a Roth.
A worked example
On the values this calculator opens with, the traditional IRA at retirement is $1,074,423.96. Underneath, Years invested comes out at 35 years and Total contributed at $255,000. Change any field and every figure updates as you type.
Using the calculator
- Enter your balance and annual contribution.
- Set current and retirement ages.
- Enter the tax rate you expect in retirement.
The maths behind it
FV = balance × (1+r)ⁿ + contribution × ((1+r)ⁿ − 1) ÷ r
after-tax = FV × (1 − retirement tax rate)
Questions people ask about this
Are traditional IRA contributions deductible?
They can be, but the deduction phases out at higher incomes if you or a spouse are covered by a workplace plan.
When must I start withdrawing?
Required minimum distributions generally begin at age 73 for traditional IRAs. Use the RMD calculator for the amount.
What is the contribution limit?
The base limit is $7,000 a year, with an extra $1,000 catch-up if you are 50 or older.